Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Check out our favorite books for nonprofit leaders

We are often asked about books we recommend. We thought it would be helpful to share some of our favorites.

Alyce Lee:

There are two books I routinely recommend to board members. The first is "Ten Responsibilities of a Nonprofit Board"by BoardSource. This short book does a fabulous job of outlining the primary responsibilities of every nonprofit board. This can also be used to generate great discussions during board meetings to build a high-performing board and nurture a culture of engagement and meaningful participation.

My next recommendation is "Asking: a 59 Minute Guide to Everything Board Members", "Volunteers and Staff Must Know to Secure the Gift"by Jerold Panas. This book is the quintessential guide to taking the fear out of asking and getting bigger gifts. What I love most about this book is it recognizes and celebrates the joy of giving which should be at the heart of every ask and every gift.

I’m also a fan of "Mega Gifts" by Jerold Panas. I usually recommend this book to fundraising staff and EDs to help them understand why people make super big gifts. Panas interviewed fifty people who had all made a single gift of $1 million or more to a single organization. These interviews reveal volumes about what donors really care about and how nonprofits can and must earn the right to ask.

Another great resource is "Achieving Excellence in Fundraising" by Hank Rosso (Second Edition). Mr. Rosso is the author of my favorite definition of fundraising: the gentle art of teaching people the joy of giving. Many of Mr. Rosso’s friends and colleagues have written updated chapters on various aspects of the fundraising process that are built on Mr. Rosso’s founding principles. I routinely return to this book for descriptions and explanations of the art and science of fundraising. It’s good stuff.

I’ve mentioned this next book many times in this column because it remains one of my favorites. Penelope Burk’s “Donor Centered Fundraising” is based on national research conducted by Burk and her firm to learn what donors want and need from the charities they support. It’s extremely valuable to hear this information from the donor’s point of view. I’m a big believer in Burk’s assertion that the better job nonprofits do of communicating with donors before asking again, the more money they will raise.

A final suggestion on the fundraising front is the Ready Reference Series published the Association of Fundraising Professionals. This is a set of slim, paper-back volumes that are chock full of information, templates and additional resources regarding many of the core principles and practices used in fundraising. The series include "Asking for Major Gifts", "Building an Effective Board of Directors", "Reviving Your Donor File", "Bringing a Development Director on Board, Establishing your Development Office", "Getting Ready for a Capital Campaign", "Making the Most of Special Events", and "Developing Fundraising Policies and Procedures". Several books have been translated into Spanish and French.

Kelly:

Kelly Otte, head of PACE Center for Girls, was selected to go to United State of Women summit.(Photo: Special to the Democrat)

My hands down absolutely best resource suggestion is www.managementhelp.org. A free online management help library created and maintained by Dr. Carter McNamara has helped me hundreds of times. I also recommend Dr. McNamara’s book “Field Guide to Developing and Operating Your Nonprofit Board of Directors”, which is a comprehensive view of high performing boards.

I have always enjoyed “Build a Better Board in 30 Days” by Carol Weisman. It’s a really easy to read, practical approach to board work.

Andy Robinson wrote a book in 2002 called “Selling Social Change (Without Selling Out)”. At the time social enterprise development was just getting warmed up so it was fairly cutting edge but it’s been a book I’ve pulled down from my shelf for different reasons over the years.

The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner informed my efforts to develop an empowering leadership and management style. The book is based on a study of leaders conducted 30 years ago that identified key practices of exemplary and successful leadership. In 2010 they replicated the student and got the same results, which they published again in 2012. The five practices are: Model the Way; Inspire a Shared Vision; Challenge the Process; Enable Others to Act; and Encourage the Heart. I loved their books so much it was required reading for my FSU Nonprofit Management students.

Two books I whole heartedly suggest you read are “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz and “Fierce Conversations” by Susan Scott. Both are helpful in learning the principle of honest communication, which I think is imperative for quality management and strong teams.

“The Nonprofit Handbook” is a good book for people starting a new nonprofit. Easy to read and great information. Mim Carlson’s book “Winning Grants” breaks grant writing down into easy to understand concepts and has good solid suggestions. “The Accounting Game: Basic Accounting Fresh from the Lemonade Stand” by Darrell Mullis and Judith Orloff wasn’t written for nonprofits but has a fun easy vibe for teaching people basic accounting terminology and concepts.

We can’t let this column end without sharing that if you don’t have access to a highly competent employment law attorney you should plan to attend an upcoming free workshop about the changes to overtime rules hosted by United Partners for Human Services. “Don’t Let the Changes to the Overtime Law Scare You” presented by Linda Bond Edwards, Attorney at Law, Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell. Thursday, June 23, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at James Moore & Co., 2477 Tim Gamble Place. The workshop will provide non-profit organizations with an overview of the Fair Labor Standards Act. After attending the workshop, managers will be able to: understand who is covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act; determine what positions are subject to overtime provisions; review current exemptions to ensure compliance; and develop strategies to implement the changes. Some of the most often asked questions will be answered including: Can I pay all of my employees a salary?; What should I do if my employees want to volunteer with my organization?; Can I provide employees compensatory time when they work overtime?; Why can’t I just classify all of my employees as independent contractors? All nonprofits are welcome, not just UPHS members.

Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE, is President of Stansbury Consulting and Kelly Otte is the Executive Director of PACE Center for Girls. You can reach us at notesonnonprofits@gmail.com